THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
Photograph by Leonid Dalevitch
A MONGOLIAN INTERPRETER OF IIAILAR
To the fairs at Iailar, in northwest Manchuria, come bands of Mongol nomads to trade
cattle for cartwheels, leather goods, utensils, and other things the more patient Chinese make.
Here, too, as in the bazaars of Baghdad, Bombay, and other oriental markets, trade would be
paralyzed but for the nimble-tongued interpreters.
since so few whites can learn that tongue
of theirs, once described as "the most im
perfect, clumsy, and awkward of all in
struments ever devised by man for the
communication of thought."
Harbin's trade territory includes more
railway mileage than does any other area
of China. More than 3,500 miles of track
have been laid in Manchuria, and this is
being increased at the rate of about 500
miles a year.
Of the present finished lines, more than
2,000 miles belong to the Chinese Eastern
System and the Japanese-owned South
Manchuria Railway. The remaining mile
age, connecting various towns by lines of
varying length, belongs to the Chinese, al
though in most cases Japan advanced the
loans and did the construction work. The
392-mile section of the Peking-Mukden
line in Manchuria was built with a Brit
ish loan (see, also, page 385).
A novel aspect of these Manchurian
railways is that, while originally built for
military and strategic purposes, unparal-
leled immigration and farm development
now enable them to earn good profits.
HOW THE SOUTH MANCHURIA RAILWAY
HELPS SUPPORT JAPAN
The spectacular Flagler railroad over
the Florida Keys, the daring push of the
long Trans-Siberian line, the war-provok
ing Berlin-to-Baghdad, the famous Cape
to-Cairo-all these come to mind in the
dramatic annals of engineering feats.
Theatrical in conception or exploring wild
and long-hidden spots on the map, they
stir the world's imagination.
Less is heard of the South Manchuria
Railway. Yet, in the destiny of the
youngest world power, it has become an
amazing factor.
Ride through Japan. Forget the cu
rios, temples, and tea houses, the geishas
and frivolous life in the big hotels. Go
through the mills or back country, among
the hamlets and peasants in the rice fields.
See how dense population is; see how
even the younger children toil for food;
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